CREATING A PRODUCTIVE HOMESTEAD IN WESTERN MASS A SUITABILITY ANALYSIS AND SITE DESIGN FOR EMMA AND JAKE MORROW
by mike conover the conway school fall
2015
The large upper field
index 1 I N T R OD U C T I ON 2
E XI S T I NG CONDI T I ON S
3
P R OJ E C T C R I T E R I A
VISION
A beautiful and productive homestead in plainfield, massachusetts, where the Morrow family can grow their own food, work with draft animal power, raise sheep, & plant a fruit orchard
4 CON T E X T 5
L E G A L CON S T R A I N T S
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ACC E S S A ND VI E WS
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S OI L A ND S LO P E S
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S O L A R E X P O S UR E
9
S UMMA RY A N A LYS I S
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DE S I G N A LT E R N AT I VE S
11
F I N A L S I T E DE S I G N
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HOME S T E A D L AYOUT
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T H E HOME S PAC E
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P L A N T I NG P L A N
1 5 P R E C E DE N T S 16
S OI L T E S T R E S ULT S
A young mixed forest
The lower field in fall
Access road to the large upper field
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INTRODUCTION In the summer
They have run a farm and an agricultural program at a boarding school in New Jersey for the last four years and have been working with an oxen team to till the farm fields for a local vegetable CSA. They also care for a flock of sheep and two pigs and see animals as important assets for a sustainable agricultural system. This project aims to help the Morrows as they create a homestead where the they can live more self-sufficiently and be more directly connected with the land, animals, and the ecological systems that will support and nourish them.
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Initial 2-acre focus site shown in green.
The entire site is opened up for consideration!
17.5 acres thought to be in 61A shown in red.
Project Goals 1.
Assess the full property to determine the optimal location for the homestead.
2. Site a three-bedroom, passive solar house. 3. Site and determine optimal layout for farm outbuildings. ·· A workshop ·· A small barn to house at least five large animals ·· A separate sheep barn
A change of scope Initially the Morrows believed that a large portion of the site, about 17.5 acres, was preserved under the state’s Chapter 61A program, meaning that this land could only be used for agricultural purposes. As a result, the Morrows focused on siting their homestead on the 2-acre field along West Hill Road. When they realized, however, that the previous landowner had actually removed the land from Chapter 61A, the entire site became available. The project shifted from being a site design project to a suitability analysis to determine the best location on the 25 acres for the entire homestead.
138 West Hill Road Plainfield MA, 01070
15 ACRE FIELD
D esigner : M ike C onover F all 2015
Emma and Jake plan to move to Plainfield in the coming years to raise a family and develop a self-sufficient homestead, where they will work with draft animal power to grow their own food.
Emma and Jake Morrow
2.5 ACRE FIELD
2 ACRE FIELD
Introduction
After several years spent looking for a piece of land to call home, Emma and Jake discovered a beautiful site in Plainfield, Massachusetts, which they visited through the winter and spring of 2015. The land is composed of cleared fields and a mixed forest, lying on a gentle slope that rises to the west. Aside from several old stone walls that run throughout the forest, the land has no built structures on it.
4.5 ACRE FOREST
Suitability Analysis and Site Design for
of 2015, emma and jake morrow purchased 25 acres of land in western massachusetts.
·· A large barn ·· A high tunnel ·· A greenhouse ·· 1/4 acre of farm plots The Morrow family
·· Wood storage 4. Determine the best access route between the upper and lower fields.
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
North
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THE LAND 25 acres of cleared fields and mixed 1
fo
re
upper
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field
m i xe d forest y ut i l i t
l i ne
s to ne wa l l s
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2 2
1 The small upper field.
4 A large white pine stands in the southern end of the lower field.
The old well cover.
A diversity of plant life The mixed forest is composed of about 65% hardwood and 35% softwood trees. Dominant tree species include sugar maple, white birch, yellow birch, basswood, white ash, black cherry, red maple, poplar (many dead), red spruce, hemlock, and white pine. Striped maple and beech can be found throughout the understory and royal fern, cinnamon fern, and jack-in-the-pulpit thrive beneath them. Jewelweed and raspberry grow in the wetter areas of the forest. The cleared fields have a mix of grasses, clovers, wild strawberries, and young ferns. Goldenrod and young deciduous saplings also grow throughout the small upper field. > > The site is home to a Northern Hardwood forest, and so plants within or related to this plant community will be well adapted to this site.
large upper field
3
55 Forests to the east and west and tree lines to the north and south frame the expansive large upper field.
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
138 West Hill Road Plainfield MA, 01070
field
D esigner : M ike C onover F all 2015
a o
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s ma l l
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Emma and Jake Morrow
low e r
A mixed forest with a thriving fern population.
Existing Conditions
1
3 Suitability Analysis and Site Design for
4
ol
A wetland (which has not been officially delineated), an old metal well cover, and a small pond sit in the northwestern part of the forest. Stone walls run throughout the site and a utility line cuts through the middle of the site from east to west.
old well
p o nd
ad hill ro west
The land is characterized by three open fields, which are 2 acres, 2.5 acres 12 acres; and 4.5 acres of mixed forest. The site rises to the west from West Hill Road on about a 10% slope. An old, overgrown forest road cuts diagonally through the mixed forest, and at one point connected the two upper fields with the neighboring property to the north.
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forest rest on a gentle slope that rises to the west
North
2/16
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PROJECT CRITERIA What makes for a good site?
FARM OUTBUILDINGS
> > Low cost of development
•• Designed to drive through for ease of cleaning and access.
•• Could be separate or connected to another barn.
•• Minimum 700 sq feet let out for the 5 (UNH specs). •• Animal let out on the south or southeast side of building (warmer microclimate).
•• Minimize cost of building.
•• Designed for ease of loading and unloading hay.
•• Minimize driveway length from access point.
•• Water, bedding and dry storage.
•• Locate barns ideally downwind and downslope of house.
•• Approximately 30’x50’. •• Southern orientation if possible to allow for passive solar design and opportunity for solar photovoltaics. •• Passive solar design: long side oriented south or southeast for maximum solar exposure and at least 6 hours of sun at winter solstice.
workshop •• Approximately 18’x25’.
•• Create south and southeast microclimates for family outdoor living & animal let outs.
•• Ability to drive a small tractor or machine in to work on. •• Could be connected to the barn or house or a stand-alone building.
•• Minimize building on flattest land. •• Allow for an oxen team to navigate the farm area: minimum turn around radius of 20 feet.
high tunnel and greenhouse
•• Reduce wind with buildings or a windbreak if necessary. To minimize snow load on buildings from the reduced wind, the windbreak should be sited at least 100’ north of the buildings.
•• High tunnel appox. 12’x24’ or 16’x36’. •• Greenhouse approx. 8’x12’.
•• Driveway and farm road adequate for larger trucks.
•• Oriented towards the south for maximim solar exposure.
•• The whole homestead, including all buildings, driveway, and garden plots, will likely be about 1.5 acres.
•• Near home if needed for winter food production with minimal shoveling.
wood storage
THE HOME
•• For about 6-8 cords of wood.
•• 3 bedrooms, approximately 24’x32’. •• Passive solar design: long side oriented south or southeast for maximum solar exposure and receiving at least 6 hours of sun at winter solstice.
GARDEN PLOTS •• 4 plots, approximately 24’x48’ or 24’x60’ each.
•• Entrance on gable end (to minimize snow removal). •• Maximum height 35’ (Plainfield bylaw).
Sketches of the preliminary barn (by J. Morrow)
•• 20 foot buffer on each end (“headlands”) for the oxen team to turn around.
•• Building on flatter land will reduce the cost.
arrival and parking •• Max 10% driveway. •• Parking for 2 -3 vehicles. •• Space for snow removal. •• Minimum width 12’ for driveway.
waste •• A septic system for a 3-bedroom house will handle roughly 330 gallons per day, which equates to 590 sq. ft., approximately 20’x30’ or 15’x 40’.
ANIMALS
Housing, space, and resources for: •• 1 team of oxen, 1 team of working horses, and a dairy cow •• Small flock of 12 - 15 sheep •• A few pigs •• Small flock of chickens.
North
•• The Morrows have interest in composting toilets or a greywater system. •• If composting toilets are used, need a 1/2 size septic for greywater.
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
138 West Hill Road Plainfield MA, 01070
> > Pleasant views
large future barn
D esigner : M ike C onover F all 2015
> > Ability to deal with waste (septic potential)
•• Minimum 315 sq feet of space for all stalls in the barn (UNH specs).
Emma and Jake Morrow
•• House 5 large animals (2 oxen, 2 horses, 1 dairy cow).
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•• Approximately 30’x30’.
> > A sense of privacy
FARM LAYOUT
sheep barn
•• Approximately 30’x30’.
Project Criteria
> > Good solar exposure
barn
Suitability Analysis and Site Design for
> > Ease of accessibility
Sample layout for home garden (J. Morrow )
3/16
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PHYSICAL AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT Geographic context
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Plainfield lies in the uplands of western Massachusetts in a fairly rural section of the state. The region is a patchwork of coniferous forests, deciduous forests, and cleared fields, likely used for farming, haying, and pasture. The site itself lies in between Plainfield center and West Cummington.
N 138 WEST HILL ROAD PLAINFIELD MA
( not
to s c a l e )
The site rests on the southeastern slope of a large ridge, facing primarly to the east.
The site is in the uplands of western Massachustts, in a patchwork of cleared fields and forests, between Plainfield and Cummington.
Temperate climate and evenly distributed precipitation
An agricultural past
USDA hardiness zone: border of 5a and 5b
According to the previous landowners, the land has been in agriculture for at least the last sixty years, and likely for longer. They report that potatoes were grown in the large upper field during World War II. The smaller upper field may have been planted with high-bush blueberries around the 1950s. In the 1960s the large upper field was plowed and planted with corn but due to erosion, the landowner decided not to plow again. The large upper field has therefore been hayed for the last fifty years. In 2011, the land was used to run a goat dairy and a small vegetable operation.
Average annual extreme minimum temperature: -10°F to -20°F Average last frost: May 11-20 Average first frost: October 1-10 50 inches of precipitation per year, equals about 4.2 inches per month > > Trees and plants well adapted to the site’s climate should be chosen.
D esigner : M ike C onover F all 2015
A-A’
Context
section
138 West Hill Road Plainfield MA, 01070
> > Because of its elevation, Plainfield likel y experiences a cooler microclimate than the surrounding lower-l ying towns.
Emma and Jake Morrow
Elevation is 1620 feet above sea level.
Suitability Analysis and Site Design for
The land lies on the east-facing southeastern slope of a large drumlinoid hill, a 15,000-year-old deposit of glacial till from the Wisconsin glaciation.
> > If the large field has lost topsoil to erosion and has been hayed continuousl y for the past 50 years without an addition of nutrients, or animal manure, it may have relativel y poor fertility.
North
4/16 Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
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LEGAL CONSTRAINTS Legal constraints
low e r
s ma l l upper field
Design for:
> > Siting the homestead in the lower field would likel y entail clearing trees to create a new access road outside the wetland buffer. A 20-foot-wide powerline easement cuts through the middle of the site. > > Building is not permitted within the powerline route, and developing a road along the route would require contacting Eversource for more information.
to the large upper field
A private road runs along the western edge of the large farm field, off the Morrows’ property, which the Morrows have a “perpetual right and easement to use” as described in the land deed.
POTENTIAL WETLAND WITH 100’ BUFFER
> > The whole western border of the large upper field is accessible by this road.
large upper
20’ POWERLINE EASEMENT
field ACCESS ROAD
OLD FOREST ROAD
The power line route cuts a clearing through the forest.
A small pond rests in an uncertified wetland.
D esigner : M ike C onover F all 2015
An opportunity for legal access
50-FOOT SETBACK FOR PRINCIPAL BUILDINGS
138 West Hill Road, Plainfield MA, 01070
field
Emma and Jake Morrow
A potential wetland lies at the northern edge of the forest and intersects with the old forest road. A variance or permit may be required if the forest road is to be further developed and for any building within the 100-foot wetland buffer.
WETLAND
Legal Constraints
> > Compared to the large upper fields, the smaller sizes of the lower field and small upper field would have fewer options for how the homestead buildings could be organized.
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The town of Plainfield specifies a 50-foot setback from the property line for all principal buildings. The 50-foot setback limits the buildable area of the lower field to about 1.2 acres, which may necessitate clearing trees if the entire homestead (of about 1.5 acres) is to fit in the lower field. The smaller upper field is reduced to 1.6 acres of potential building space by the setback and the large upper field has 12.2 acres to build on.
North
5/16 Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
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ACCESS AND VIEWS
field
field
m i xe d forest DRAINAGE SWALE
> > A new access point can legall y be created along the entire western edge of the field and slopes here are less than 10%, but access would require clearing some trees and other vegetation.
Open views to neighbors reduce privacy There are open views of the neighbors to the north of the lower field, and to the west and northwest of the large upper field. The neighbors to the west of the large upper field have dogs and according to the previous landowners have disputed that the Morrows have access to the road that runs to the west. > > Views to neighboring properties can be obstructed to create a distinct home space and a sense of privacy. Because of the sheer size of the large field, distance or a change of elevation could also be used to create a sense of separation.
POTENTIAL ACCESS (MAY NEED GRADING) VIEWS TO NEIGHBORS
OLD FOREST ROAD ILL TH ES W
AD RO
LOWER FIELD
A line of sugar maples and a steep section of slope run along West Hill Road.
West Hill Road and a driveway off Summit Street provide access to the site along the western and eastern borders. Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
D esigner : M ike C onover F all 2015
large upper field
Views
CURRENT ACCESS
and
> > Use of the access road will require a discussion with the neighbors in order to prevent future conflict and achieve a mutual agreement.
138 West Hill Road Plainfield MA, 01070
upper
Emma and Jake Morrow
low e r
Access
Because of the Morrows’ easement allowing them to use a driveway along the western edge of the large upper field, the entire large upper field is legally accessible from the west. There is a small section in the southwestern corner of the field where the vegetation is cleared. This is currently the only vehicular entrance into this field, as narrow band of trees on relatively flat land separates the rest of the large field from the existing access road.
s ma l l
Suitability Analysis and Site Design for
> > New access points could be created along West Hill Road but would require some grading and a culvert to keep the drainage ditch continuous.
AD HILL RO WEST
West Hill Road runs north to south along the eastern edge of the site, adjacent to the lower field. A short section of steep slope (about 5 feet high and 50% slope) and a drainage ditch separate much of the lower field from West Hill Road except the northeast corner. The vegetation is cleared in the northeast corner and so the lower field is currently only accessible by vehicle through a narrow clearing of vegetation in the northeast corner.
413-369-4044
The site is accessible from its eastern and western borders
North
6/16
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Geology and Soils
Slopes & Drainage
There are three soil types on the site, Peru loam, Marlow loam, and Peru-Marlow association. Peru-Marlow association is described by the USDA as being fairly stony and has limitations within the rooting zone, but is largely limited to the areas that are forested.
Most of the site rises to the west at slopes of 10 to 15% with some flatter areas of 5 to 10% slope in the forest, the lower field, and the southwestern section of the large field. There are approximately 4 acres of land with a 5 to 10% slope in the large upper field. A small section of the lower field has slope above 15%.
What is prime PERU-MARLOW ASSOCIATION
MARLOW LOAM PERU LOAM
farmland?
The USDA describes “prime farmland” as “land that has the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed, forage, fiber, and oilseed crops, and is also available for these uses (the land could be cropland, pastureland, rangeland, forest land, or other land, but not urban built-up land or water). It has the soil quality, growing season, and moisture supply needed to economically produce sustained high yields of crops when treated and managed, including water management, according to acceptable farming methods. In general, prime farmlands have an adequate and dependable water supply from precipitation or irrigation, a favorable temperature and growing season, acceptable acidity or alkalinity, acceptable salt and sodium content, and few or no rocks. They are permeable to water and air. Prime farmlands are not excessively erodible or saturated with water for a long period of time, and they either do not flood frequently or are protected from flooding.”
Old for est
DRAINAGE SWALE
5-10% SLOPE
10-15% SLOPE
>15% SLOPE DIRECTION OF WATER FLOW
Source: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/
OLD FOREST ROAD FEET 0 Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
D esigner : M ike C onover F all 2015
> > Trees planted on-contour in the orchard can help slow waterflow and help it percolate into the ground.
> > Farm plots should be tilled on contour to reduce erosion.
Emma and Jake Morrow
> > If the prime agricultural soil is to be saved for pasture, haying, or farm plots, there is sufficient space in the western half of the large upper field for siting the homestead and buildings.
> > If expanding agricultural production ever does become a goal, the homestead should have a minimal footprint to conserve as much of the flat land available as possible. This includes the buildings, driveway, and a windbreak.
Soil and Slopes
Both Peru loam and Marlow loam are susceptible to erosion, which has already occurred on the large upper field, so measures should be taken to prevent further erosion.
> > Siting the homestead and farm plots on the flatter land will reduce the cost of building. If the entire homestead is about 1.5 acres, this will leave 2.5 acres of flatter land available, should production ever be expanded.
138 West Hill Road Plainfield MA, 01070
Water flows primarily to the east and southeast, except when it flows down the old forest road to the northeast and when it collects in a drainage swale that runs along West Hill Road.
Suitability Analysis and Site Design for
The open fields have both Peru loam and Marlow loam. Marlow loam is described by the USDA as being “farmland of statewide importance” and is designated as a Class 3 soil. Peru loam is identified as being “prime farmland,” and is designated as a Class 2 soil, which has more capabilities in terms of what can be grown than Class 3 soils. A more detailed description of the soil capability classes can be found in the appendix; however, these distinctions are created for larger scale commercial farmers, and so may not be as relevant for the purposes of haying and grazing pasture.
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PRIME FARMLAND ON A GENTLE SLOPE
100 200 300
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SOLAR EXPOSURE
PARTIAL SHADE 3 TO 6 HOURS FULL SHADE LESS THAN 3 HOURS
> > The region of the large upper field that receives full sun during the winter solstice is the most appropriate location to site the homestead in order to passivel y heat the house and barn.
> > There is an adequate amount of sun through the whole site to grow earl y and late season crops.
138 West Hill Road Plainfield MA, 01070
Most of the site gets full sun during the spring and fall equinoxes. Narrow strips along the eastern and western edges of the tree lines receive partial shade and a narrow band along the northern edges of tree lines lies in full shade.
Emma and Jake Morrow
Both the smaller upper field and the lower field only get partial shade on the winter solstice. A large portion of the larger upper field gets full sun at the winter solstice and will therefore continue to get full sun through the whole year. The areas about 120 feet to the north of the tree lines remain in full shade.
D esigner : M ike C onover F all 2015
FULL SUN GREATER THAN 6 HOURS
Spring and fall equinoxes
Solar exposure
Hours of sunlight per day
Winter solstice
Suitability Analysis and Site Design for
The amount of sun that shines on the site changes throughout the year, with the winter solstice (around December 22) marking the shortest day and the least amount of sunlight in the year and the summer solstice (around June 21) marking the longest day with the most sunlight. The spring and fall equinoxes (around March 20 and September 23, respectively) are halfway between the solstices. These analyses depict the approximate number of hours of sunlight received by all parts of the site during the winter solstice and equinoxes. The model used to depict these accounted for tree growth, so while these graphics do not depict the current levels of sun and shade, they show what the levels of sunlight will be in coming years as the trees continue to grow.
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Large upper field receives full sun year round
North
8/16 Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
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SUMMARY ANALYSIS to the large field, location of flatter slopes, and solar exposure through the year emerge as critical criteria for determining the optimal location for the homestead.
50-FOOT BUILDING SETBACK
The large field is also the only region of the site that gets full sun through the winter, so in terms of season extension and passive solar design, the large upper field is the optimal location for the homestead, excluding the areas along the eastern, northern, and western tree lines.
WETLAND WITH 100-FOOT BUFFER
Building on flatter ground is less expensive than on sloped ground so the southwestern section of the large field, sloped at 5-10%, would be an appropriate site. Creating a windbreak to the north of the homestead would require 100’ of space to allow to the snow to drop beore it reaches the buildings, reducing their snow load. Siting the homestead at the northern end of the flat region would allow the windbreak to be planted to the north on the more steeply sloped area, preserving as much flat land as possible for future agriculture.
VIEWS TO NEIGHBORS
b e s t ag s oi l
WINTER SHADE IN LARGE FIELD
5-10% SLOPE
the northern end of the flattest section of the large upper field, which gets full sun year-round, is the best location for the homestead.
CURRENT ACCESS
D esigner : M ike C onover F all 2015
> > A new driveway entering the field from a gap in the trees at the southewestern corner of the field would require the Morrows to use onl y a short section of the disputed access road. Slopes in this section of the field are appropriate for a driveway.
Emma and Jake Morrow
The road along the western edge of the large upper field provides access to the entire western section of the field, although the neighbors to the west have disputed the Morrows’ right to the road. While they legally have access to it, in the interest of keeping the peace, the Morrows are less inclined to use that road.
Summary Analysis
> > Siting the homestead in the large upper field would allow the barns and animals to be near the house, reducing time traveling back and forth.
138 West Hill Road Plainfield MA, 01070
WETLAND
Suitability Analysis and Site Design for
A primary goal for Emma and Jake is to raise animals and graze sheep and so access to the large upper field and the pasture there is essential. If the homestead were sited in the lower field, this would entail a significant cost to create a usable access road through the forest to the upper field. In addition, because there is a wetland in the forest, permitting or a variance may be required to develop the road. Having to travel back and forth between the upper and lower fields to care for the animals would be inefficient and time-consuming.
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Ease of access
POTENTIAL ACCESS
North
9/16 Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
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DESIGN ALTERNATIVES FOR HOMESTEAD LAYOUT •• A passive solar house is oriented to the south or slightly to the southeast. •• The driveway and arrival is separated from the main farming area, creating two distinct spaces with the homestead buildings as the transitional zone.
•• Home space includes a small yard, kitchen gardens, and semi-dwarf fruit trees, all to the south. A patio on the south side of the house with a pergola trained with grapes or another deciduous vine creates a pleasant sitting area, shaded by the grapes in the summer, which cool the space and house, but full of light in the winter.
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Common features of each design:
The driveway enters from the southwestern corner, runs eastward, and curves up to the carport. Parking is between a distinct home space and the farm space. The shop and barn are connected. The buildings are all oriented towards the southeast, which reduces solar exposure but gives a longer view towards the southeastern corner of the field. Access to and from the barn and shop is simple as there is a circular road with a 40-foot-wide island in the middle. Two large deciduous trees planted in the island provide shade for the animals in the let out and for the barn in the summer.
The homestead is sited at the northern end of the flatter region of the large upper field. Access is from the north and a driveway spur curves around into a carport to the southwest of the house, while the driveway continues to the east to a farm space.
pros
pros
pros
Wrap-around driveway creates a central home space.
Circular driveway makes access in and out simple.
Can use existing access point in southern corner of field.
The three barns create a distinct farm space that is near the home.
Entrance from north leaves entire southern area open for gardens, yard, patio, farm plots, etc.
solar, the house is set about 160 feet north of the southern tree line and about 100 feet to the east of the western edge.
cons Driveway occupies a lot of space and paves over nice southern views from house. It has a large presence in the homestead.
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
cons Vehicle or tractor access to the rest of the pasture from the driveway would either have to be through the barn or around the animal let out.
The shop is attached to the house, creating a warm southeastern microclimate for an outdoor patio space. The house, shop, barn and carport define a distinct home space, adjacent to but separated from the farm space that is defined by the shop and three barns.
138 West Hill Road Plainfield MA, 01070
Emma and Jake Morrow
Making microclimates
driveway and island
D esigner : M ike C onover F all 2015
A wrap-around farm access road creates a distinct home space to the south of the house. The driveway enters from the southwest corner, parking is to the west in a two-car carport, and the house is located between the parking, shop, and barn. A future barn could be built to the east of a primary barn, in what would originally serve to be the let out. To get good solar exposure for passive
Roundabout
Design Alternatives
All lined up
Suitability Analysis and Site Design for
•• The barn is downwind and downslope of the house.
Distinct but adjacent home and farm spaces. Centrally located in field at northern end of flat space.
cons Uses more of the westward driveway, and is closer to the neighbor there.
North
10/16
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FINAL SITE DESIGN WORKING WITH THE LAND FOR SUSTAINED ABUNDANCE
4 5 1
Four parallel paths provide access through the orchard for a cart, tractor, or truck.
2
5
Windbreak creates protected
forest farming
microclimate
The forest is managed for forest health and firewood is harvested in a sustainable way to ensure long-term ecosystem function while still meeting fuel needs.
A windbreak of coniferous trees planted 100 feet to the north of the homestead protects the space from cold winter winds from the north and northwest. Because it redirects the wind, it also reduces the snow falling on the buildings.
Mushrooms such as shiitakes, oysters, and lion’s mane are inoculated into hardwood logs, which continually produce highly nutritious mushrooms for years.
An unpaved farm road travels through a gap in the windbreak and connects the homestead to the orchard in the smaller upper field.
3
Maple trees are seasonally tapped for syrup and a ginseng crop slowly matures on the forest floor to provide a potent medicinal plant and a highly valuable crop to help offset the cost of the future barn.
Homestead centrally located in large upper field
Aspects of design alternatives 2 and 3 are integrated into the final layout. The homestead is centrally located within the large field and sits at the northern end of the flatter land (5-10% slopes). Amiable relations with the neighbors are established and part of the western road is used to access the driveway.
2
3
All buildings have full solar exposure year round. Deciduous trees are strategically planted through the site to provide shade when it is most needed during the summer, but letting in the warming sunlight during the winter once their leaves have dropped. An edible landscape encompasses and permeates the home space, which abounds with fruit trees, nut and berry-producing bushes, and perennial garden beds, Farm plots to the south of the buildings are planted on contour. The rest of the flattest section in that field (5-10%) is left open for pasture, haying, and potential future farming plots. Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
Sustainable forestry and
6
Grazing pasture and hay production
6 DESIGN DETAIL, SHEET 12
The animals are rotated through the pasture on a regular basis through the late spring, summer, and early fall, improving the pasture’s fertility. The areas that are not grazed are hayed for winter feed.
413-369-4044
138 West Hill Road Plainfield MA, 01070
Nut trees such as chestnut, oak, shagbark hickory, and pecan rise above the fruit trees at the northern end of the field, and provide yields of high quality protein for generations.
D esigner : M ike C onover F all 2015
This field is planted with a wide diversity of apple trees for cider production, interspersed with multi-functional plants such as nitrogen-fixing shrubs, nutrient accumulators, and pollinator and beneficial insect attractors to support a productive orchard ecosystem.
Emma and Jake Morrow
The lower field is home to a ram, who is rotated through the field on a regular basis. The field is accessible by foot from the upper fields through the forest or down the powerline easement route. When vehicular access is needed, the field is entered from West Hill Road.
Final Site Design
Biodiverse orchard polyculture
Ram pasture
Suitability Analysis and Site Design for
1
4
North
11/16
4 2
shop
house
carport
kitchen garden
yard
turn out paddock
The barn features a 60’x70’ turn-out paddock for the animals to the southeast of the barn. The barn and a small windbreak create a warm microclimate in the winter and a large linden to the south of the paddock provides shade in the summer.
5
farm plots
semi-dwarf fruit trees
Draft powered farmland
Four garden plots, 24’x48’ or 24’x60’, lie parallel to each other with a 20’ buffer on both ends for the oxen turn-around.
A
The fields are alternated between production and lying fallow, during which they are cover-cropped.
5
Rainwater from the roof is captured in a 3,000-gallon cistern beneath the patio and is used to irrigate fruit trees, kitchen gardens, and farm plots when needed.
Abundance right
windbreak future turn out paddock barn
high tunnel
A small mowed yard lies to the south as a open play space, surrounded by meadow grasses and wildflowers.
3
barn
3
The layout of house, shop, and barn creates a protected microclimate and a defined home space for a small yard, kitchen gardens, and patio. The house is oriented towards the south for passive solar heating, reducing the amount of firewood needed to heat the house and making for a bright and sunny home environment.
The barn is oriented north to south and designed to be drive-through. Farm plots to the south are accessible through the barn or by a path that curves around the western side of the barn.
future barn
solar
house and workshop create a warm home space
A 10’x30’ covered area at the southern end of the sheep barn receives solar exposure through the winter.
0
10 20 30
50
A chicken tractor is sized to allow for a regular rotation around the crop fields. For example, a 6’x3’ chicken tractor rotated every day through a 24’x48’ field would have occupied the whole field after 64 days.
outside the kitchen door
138 West Hill Road Plainfield MA, 01070
1
D esigner : M ike C onover F all 2015
covered area
Emma and Jake Morrow
sheep barn
Homestead Layout
A connected passive
A’
Suitability Analysis and Site Design for
The gravel driveway curves in from the western access road and splits in two, one route curving towards the carport to the southwest of the house and the other towards the farm space to the east of the house. A few scattered deciduous and evergreen trees and a hazelnut hedge along the driveway screen the view to the neighbor’s house and create a sense of privacy.
2
A future larger barn will further create this space, and with an east-west orientation will be passively heated by the sun through the winter. It also will offer a prime space for solar photovoltaic panels or a solar hot water system, should either be desired in the future.
& north
413-369-4044
The shop, barn, and sheep barn all open up to a central farm area, lined with gravel and encircling a 25-foot-wide green space planted with a large downy serviceberry in the center.
Entrance from west
Central farm space
4
INTEGRATED HOME AND FARM SPACES IN AN EDIBLE LANDSCAPE 1
www.csld.edu
DESIGN DETAIL: HOMESTEAD LAYOUT
Just beyond the patio, edible, medicinal, and multi-functional perennial plants intermingle, creating a thriving edible ecosystem. A cluster of semi-dwarf fruit trees provide a bounty of fresh fruit through the summer. Seedlings are started early in the spring in a small 8’x12’ greenhouse tucked into the garden beds, and a larger high tunnel provides fresh greens through the winter and heat-loving crops through the summer. Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
North FARM PLOTS
HEADLANDS
SECTION A-A’
STRAWBERRIES & RASPBERRIES
HIGH-TUNNEL
GREENHOUSE
patio
&
pergola
SHOP
WOOD PILE
DRIVEWAY
12/16
www.csld.edu
DESIGN DETAIL: THE HOME SPACE
2
1 stone path grape-covered pergola
CARPORT yard
garden beds
patio
solar dehydrator
green house
2
compost leach field under yard
3
HIGH TUNNEL
meadow
semi-dwarf fruit trees farm plots
0
5
10
20
30
40
Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
The patio sits just outside the kitchen door and connects the home to the landscape. A wood-chipped path leads out from the patio into the kitchen garden, where beds of herbs, greens and perennial fruits and vegetables grow a stone’s throw from the kitchen door alongside nitrogen-fixing plants, pollinator attractors, and dynamic accumulators, which uptake nutrients and make them accessible to other plants. Honeyberries, highbush blueberries and a larger Nanking cherry bush define the space along the eastern side. A second path runs due south from the patio to the larger farm plots, a short and direct route when harvesting and transporting bushels of vegetables. A greenhouse for starting seedlings and a high-tunnel line the path, providing warmth-loving crops through the summer and fresh greens through the winter. They are only a short distance from the house to minimize snow shoveling. A solar dehydrator harnesses sunlight to dry out any surplus fruits and vegetables, preserving them for a winter snack. Kitchen food scraps are composted to the north of the high tunnel and the fertility is returned back to the soil through the garden beds. To the south of the high tunnel a row of raspberries and a strawberry patch provide perennial yields.
3 raspberry row & strawberry patches
Kitchen gardens
An open yard, meadow, and fruit trees
Across the path from the kitchen garden a small yard provides an open space for play and transitions to a less managed meadow of grasses and wildflowers. A group of semi-dwarf plum, peach, paw paw, and Asian pear trees just beyond the yard provide an abundance of delicious fruit through the season. Mowed paths meander through and between them and herbaceous plants under the trees help boost fertility, fix nitrogen, and repel pests.
413-369-4044
138 West Hill Road Plainfield MA, 01070
HOUSE
D esigner : M ike C onover F all 2015
SHOP
Emma and Jake Morrow
The path opens up to a stone patio, defined by the house and shop, which together create a southeast-facing microclimate. The space receives bright morning and afternoon sunlight but is shaded from the hot late afternoon sunlight from the west.
The Home Space
A section of the main driveway branches off and curves towards a carport. A stone path meets the driveway and leads either towards the home’s front entrance or around the side of the house. Colorful and fragrant perennial garden beds, full of herbs, edible flowers, and berries create a beautiful and welcoming space. Around the side of the house, a pergola trained with leafy grape vines and hops allows dappled sunlight through, cools the space, and provides two edible yields through the summer.
wood storage
perennial garden beds
A welcoming entrance
Suitability Analysis and Site Design for
1
North
13/16
arborvitae
cornelian cherry lilac
american hophornbeam
nanking cherry
downy serviceberry
perennial garden beds
grape
highbush blueberry
eastern redbud
blue spruce
yard
Tree: 25-40’ x 20-30’
Also called ironwood because of its extremely dense wood.
Arborvitae
Thuja ‘Green Giant’
Tree: 40-60’ x 12-18’
Fast growing, disease free, used as a screen for views of the neighbor.
Asian pear
Pyrus pyrifolia
Tree: 25-30’ x 25’
+Crisp, juicy fruit that ripen in late summer.
Blue spruce
Picea pungens ‘Fat Albert’
Tree: 10-15’ x 7-10’
Dense evergreen, used as a windbreak for the turn out paddock.
Cornelian cherry
Cornus mas
Decid. shrub: 20-25’ x 15-20’
Very hardy, delicious fruits, in between a sweet cherry and a cranberry.
Downy serviceberry
Amelanchier arborea
Tree: 15-25’ x 15-25’
Tolerates restricted root zone and compacted soils, edible berries.
Eastern redbud
Cercis canadensis
Tree: 20-30’ x 25-35’
Beautiful rose/purple flowers. Native.
Grape
Vitus ‘Bluebell’
Decid. vine
Good for eating, jelly, and juice. Disease resistant.
Highbush blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum
Decid. shrub: 6-12’ x 8-12’
Likes acidic soils so may need amending in place.
Honeyberry
Lonicer caerulea
Decid. shrub: 4-8’ x same
+ Edible fruit, tastes like a mix of raspberry and blueberry.
Hybrid plum
Prunus spp.
Tree: 15’
+ Asian and American cross, very hardy. Needs 2nd var. for pollination.
Lilac
Syringa vulgaris ‘Sensation’
Decid. shrub: 8-15’ x 6-12’
Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. Edible flowers can be used as garnish.
Littleleaf linden
Tilia cordata
Tree: 50-60’ x 40’
Good shade tree.
Nanking cherry
Prunus tomentosa
Decid. shrub: 6-10’ x 6-10’
+Edible and ornamental.
Paw paw
Asimina triloba
Tree: 20-35’ x 20-35’
+Native to Eastern US, tastes like a mix of banana, mango, and papaya.
Peach
Prunus persica
Tree: 15-25’
Resistant to most pests and diseases but can be affected by peach leaf curl.
paw paw
peach
raspberries
hybrid plum
Nuts can be roasted and eaten, bears 3-5 years after planting.
American hophornbeam Ostrya virginiana
honeyberry garden beds
www.csld.edu
Corylus americana Decid. shrub: 10-16’ x 8-13’
NOTES
413-369-4044
American hazelnut
FORM
138 West Hill Road Plainfield MA, 01070
American hazelnut
BOTANICAL
Emma and Jake Morrow
COMMON NAME
Suitability Analysis and Site Design for
DESIGN DETAIL: PLANTING PLAN
littleleaf linden
meadow
“+” denotes that it needs a second for pollination
DOWNY SERVICEBERRY
AMERICAN HAZELNUT
EASTERN REDBUD
PAW PAW
LILAC
LITTLELEAF LINDEN
D esigner : M ike C onover F all 2015
asian pear
Planting Plan
strawberries
North
14/16 Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
www.csld.edu
A carport near the house protects cars from the elements. Orienting it so that the entrance is on the gable end will reduce the need for snow removal.
138 West Hill Road Plainfield MA, 01070
A solar dehydrator preserves extra fruits, vegetables, and meats.
D esigner : M ike C onover F all 2015
A greenhouse for starting seedlings in early spring.
Emma and Jake Morrow
Creeping thyme can be planted between stones for a beautiful and aromatic walkway.
Precedents
A pergola trained with leafy grapes shades a patio in summer and provides tasty grapes. Vines lose leaves in winter and allow winter sun into the home.
Suitability Analysis and Site Design for
413-369-4044
MATERIALS & PRECEDENTS
North Connected buildings can create distinct spaces and desirable microclimates. Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
15/16
www.csld.edu
SOIL TEST RESULTS AND SOIL CLASSES Small upper field
Lower field
LAND CAPABILITY CLASSIFICATIONS, USDA, 1961.
“
Class II—Soils in class II have some limitations that reduce the choice of plants or require moderate conservation practices.
Class III—Soils in class III have severe limitations that reduce the choice of plants or require special conservation practices, or both.
Soils in class II require careful soil management, including conservation practices, to prevent deterioration or to improve air and water relations when the soils are cultivated. The limitations are few and the practices are easy to apply. The soils may be used for cultivated crops, pasture, range, woodland, or wildlife food and cover.
Soils in class III have more restrictions than those in class II and when used for cultivated crops the conservation practices are usually more difficult to apply and to maintain. They may be used for cultivated crops, pasture, woodland, range, or wildlife food and cover.
Limitations of soils in class II may include singly or in combination the effects of (1) gentle slopes, (2) moderate susceptibility to wind or water erosion or moderate adverse effects of past erosion, (3) less than ideal soil depth, (4) somewhat unfavorable soil structure and workability, (5) slight to moderate salinity or sodium easily corrected but likely to recur, (6) occasional damaging overflow, (7) wetness correctable by drainage but existing permanently as a moderate limitation, and (8) slight climatic limitations on soil use and management. The soils in this class provide the farm operator less latitude in the choice of either crops or management practices than soils in class I. They may also require special soil-conserving cropping systems, soil conservation practices, water-control devices, or tillage methods when used for cultivated crops. For example, deep soils of this class with gentle slopes subject to moderate erosion when cultivated may need one of the following practices or some combination of two or more: Terracing, stripcropping, contour tillage, crop rotations that include grasses and legumes, vegetated water- disposal areas, cover or green-manure crops, stubble mulching, fertilizers, manure, and lime. The exact combinations of practices vary from place to place, depending on the characteristics of the soil, the local climate, and the farming system. Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.
Soil Test Results
SEE PAGE 7 FOR SOIL CLASSES ON SITE
Limitations of soils in class III restrict the amount of clean cultivation; timing of planting, tillage, and harvesting; choice of crops; or some combination of these limitations. The limitations may result from the effects of one or more of the following: (1) Moderately steep slopes; (2) high susceptibility to water or wind erosion or severe adverse effects of past erosion; (3) frequent overflow accompanied by some crop damage; (4) very slow permeability of the subsoil; (5) wetness or some continuing waterlogging after drainage; (6) shallow depths to bedrock, hardpan, fragipan, or claypan that limit the rooting zone and the water storage; (7) low moisture-holding capacity; (8) low fertility not easily corrected; (9) moderate salinity or sodium; or (10) moderate climatic limitations. When cultivated, many of the wet, slowly permeable but nearly level soils in class III require drainage and a cropping system that maintains or improves the structure and tilth of the soil. To prevent puddling and to improve permeability it is commonly necessary to supply organic material to such soils and to avoid working them when they are wet. In some irrigated areas, part of the soils in class III have limited use because of high water table, slow permeability, and the hazard of salt or sodic accumulation. Each distinctive kind of soil in class III has one or more alternative combinations of use and practices required for safe use, but the number of practical alternatives for average farmers is less than that for soils in class II.
”
138 West Hill Road Plainfield MA, 01070 D esigner : M ike C onover F all 2015
Emma and Jake Morrow
Suitability Analysis and Site Design for
413-369-4044
Large upper field
North
16/16